Today's letters: Gun control

Published: Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 4:14 p.m.

(1) I am under no obligation to explain why I own or do not own a gun. The U.S. Constitution, recently reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, gives me that right.

(2) Gun control advocates are happy to allow confusion about semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons to panic uninformed people. Fully automatic weapons, capable of producing a spray of bullets with one pull of the trigger, are already tightly regulated. A semiautomatic weapon requires pulling the trigger for each shot. Just to add to the confusion, “automatics” and “revolvers” are handguns, which also require pulling the trigger for each shot and can have double-digit magazines.

(3) I’m over 70 years of age. Until a few years ago, I didn’t believe I wanted (note the choice of words) a gun. Now I’m convinced that the “gun controllers” will not stop until they have taken away my right to own one.

(4) The sequence is easy to see. Control semi-automatic “assault” rifles. Control automatic pistols, then control revolvers. At some point, we could be left with only single-shot muzzle loaders, but it won’t stop until the Second Amendment is gutted.

John K. Roth

Mills River

Bear baiting

To the editor: A shout-out and a thank you to federal and state wildlife officials on the success of Operation Something Bruin, the bear-poaching sting that resulted in 81 arrests.

While all the charges are heinous, bear baiting is particularly contemptible. This activity consists of packs of dogs, in rotation, tormenting a chained bear who may or may not have her/his claws and teeth removed, for hours in front of a crowd.

The mentality of those who perpetrate and participate in this grotesque spectacle is frightening. Perhaps even more so than dogfighting.

Guilty individuals deserve the maximum penalties under the law. Hit them where it will really hurt — their wallets.

Candace Oakes

Hendersonville

Obama’s end run

To the editor: The Times-News reported on Feb. 15 that North Carolina will issue renewable driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants under President Barack Obama’s decreed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which essentially makes illegal aliens “legal” by fiat.

The presidential DACA program was instituted as an end run around Congress, which has not approved the president’s Dream Act, which included actions such as the DACA program. While my copy of the Constitution says the president may approve by signing or disapprove by vetoing laws, only Congress can make laws.

At what point will our Republican-controlled state, governor, House and Senate remember when “illegal meant illegal,” stand up for our 10th Amendment rights and refuse to follow this president’s every left-wing political gambit? If he next decrees that these illegals are citizens with the right to vote, will our elected officials simply concur?

Absent a law passed by Congress, if you agree that these licenses ought not to be issued, protest in the strongest possible terms to Sen. Tom Apodaca (tom.apodaca@ncleg.net) and Rep. Chuck McGrady (chuck@ChuckMcGrady.com) and ask them to tell the governor to say no to licenses for illegals and the president’s attempt at making law.

<p>To the editor: Some random thoughts on gun control:</p><p>(1) I am under no obligation to explain why I own or do not own a gun. The U.S. Constitution, recently reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, gives me that right.</p><p>(2) Gun control advocates are happy to allow confusion about semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons to panic uninformed people. Fully automatic weapons, capable of producing a spray of bullets with one pull of the trigger, are already tightly regulated. A semiautomatic weapon requires pulling the trigger for each shot. Just to add to the confusion, automatics and revolvers are handguns, which also require pulling the trigger for each shot and can have double-digit magazines.</p><p>(3) I’m over 70 years of age. Until a few years ago, I didn’t believe I wanted (note the choice of words) a gun. Now I’m convinced that the gun controllers will not stop until they have taken away my right to own one.</p><p>(4) The sequence is easy to see. Control semi-automatic assault rifles. Control automatic pistols, then control revolvers. At some point, we could be left with only single-shot muzzle loaders, but it won’t stop until the Second Amendment is gutted.</p><p><em>John K. Roth</em></p><p><em>Mills River</em></p><h3>Bear baiting</h3>
<p>To the editor: A shout-out and a thank you to federal and state wildlife officials on the success of Operation Something Bruin, the bear-poaching sting that resulted in 81 arrests.</p><p>While all the charges are heinous, bear baiting is particularly contemptible. This activity consists of packs of dogs, in rotation, tormenting a chained bear who may or may not have her/his claws and teeth removed, for hours in front of a crowd.</p><p>The mentality of those who perpetrate and participate in this grotesque spectacle is frightening. Perhaps even more so than dogfighting.</p><p>Guilty individuals deserve the maximum penalties under the law. Hit them where it will really hurt  their wallets.</p><p><em>Candace Oakes</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Obama’s end run</h3>
<p>To the editor: The Times-News reported on Feb. 15 that North Carolina will issue renewable driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants under President Barack Obama’s decreed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which essentially makes illegal aliens legal by fiat.</p><p>The presidential DACA program was instituted as an end run around Congress, which has not approved the president’s Dream Act, which included actions such as the DACA program. While my copy of the Constitution says the president may approve by signing or disapprove by vetoing laws, only Congress can make laws.</p><p>At what point will our Republican-controlled state, governor, House and Senate remember when illegal meant illegal, stand up for our 10th Amendment rights and refuse to follow this president’s every left-wing political gambit? If he next decrees that these illegals are citizens with the right to vote, will our elected officials simply concur?</p><p>Absent a law passed by Congress, if you agree that these licenses ought not to be issued, protest in the strongest possible terms to Sen. Tom Apodaca (tom.apodaca@ncleg.net) and Rep. Chuck McGrady (chuck@ChuckMcGrady.com) and ask them to tell the governor to say no to licenses for illegals and the president’s attempt at making law.</p><p><em>Dick Kranker</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>